38 new COVID-19 cases announced in Beaufort Co. Thursday as school year approaches
State health officials on Thursday reported 38 newly confirmed coronavirus cases in Beaufort County.
One probable case was also announced Thursday. No new deaths were reported in the county Thursday.
Since mid-August, the area has seen fewer daily cases, and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control classified the county as having “medium” recent disease activity on Monday.
But the percentage of positive coronavirus tests in the county remains high. And experts fear a possible surge of new infections this fall as schools resume in-person classes. At the University of South Carolina, hundreds of students have already been diagnosed with COVID-19.
DHEC has also warned of a possible uptick in cases following the Labor Day weekend.
“We don’t have to completely close down and completely change our lifestyle, but there are ways we can do these things much, much more safely than we have for the previous holidays,” said Dr. Linda Bell, the state’s top epidemiologist, during a conference call with reporters late last month.
“I remain concerned that we’ll see rebound,” she added.
Local numbers
Viral and antibody tests conducted Wednesday: 288
Percent of positive viral tests last week: 14.3%
Seven-day average of new cases in Beaufort County: 27.8
Total cases: 4,823 confirmed
Total deaths: 67 confirmed
Two-week incidence rate: 210.3 cases per 100,000 people, “moderately high”
An incidence rate measures how quickly a disease is spreading through a given population.
Dr. Scott Curry, an infectious disease specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, said counties should aim to have a two-week incidence rate of less than 50 new cases per 100,000 people.
The World Health Organization, meanwhile, has suggested that governments reopen only after the percentage of positive tests is below 5% for at least two weeks.
Statewide numbers
Percent of positive non-antibody tests reported Wednesday: 16.5%
New cases announced Thursday: 1,084
Total cases: 119,822
New deaths announced Thursday: 12
Total deaths: 2,667
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,194 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 923 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Coronavirus infections at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are being reported in the 29902 ZIP code.
More information on Beaufort County ZIP code data can be found here: bit.ly/BeaufortCountyZIP
What are DHEC’s recommendations?
State health officials say residents should continue to practice social distancing and should wear a mask in public, especially over the Labor Day weekend.
“Recently, our (case) numbers have been slowly trending downward,” Bell said in late August. “For that to continue, we cannot let up.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow South Carolina’s coronavirus data is compiled
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s total COVID-19 case count includes anyone who has tested positive since the pandemic began. The data also include those who have recovered or died.
The state agency does not provide an overall, county-by-county number of cases versus the number of people who have recovered.
DHEC counts deaths based on where a patient lives rather than where they died.
